Temperatures fell below the Arctic in some parts of Britain on the coldest winter night so far. The mercury dropped to -12.9C (8.8F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. This was colder than Ny-Alesund, one of the world’s most northerly towns about 800km (500 miles) from the North Pole, which saw -8.5C (16.7F). Terina Karoliussen, at Kings Bay […]

A newlywed husband has been accused of covering up the drugs overdose death of his young bride. Damian Cadman-Jones was also forced to deny having a hand in the death of wife Kristy, 27. Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood quizzed Mr Cadman-Jones about the circumstances surrounding her death. He asked the 31-year-old: ‘Were you in any way […]

Stevie Nicks has killed off speculation that Christine McVie will rejoin Fleetwood Mac for their reunion tour, saying there is more chance of an asteroid hitting Earth. McVie largely quit the music business after Fleetwood Mac’s successful The Dance tour in 1998, returning only to release solo album In The Meantime in 2004. The classic […]

Tottenham progressed to the knockout stages as Group J runners-up after seeing off their stubborn Greek opponents at White Hart Lane. Spurs took the lead when Emmanuel Adebayor converted Clint Dempsey’s slide-rule through-ball after 29 minutes as the hosts dominated the opening proceedings without really threatening to extend their advantage. Panathinaikos gave the home crowd […]

Tax rises and further cuts in benefits are needed to avoid a £27billion gap in the chancellor’s autumn statement, a leading think-tank has said. The money-raising measures ‘must be on the cards’ to avoid ‘close to inconceivable’ damage to some key public services, said the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies. If George Osborne protects departments […]

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers praised match-winner Jordan Henderson after his goal put them through to the last 32 of the Europa League. The £16million man’s first European goal put the Reds top of Group A but there was almost a sting in the tail for Rodgers’ side. Udinese, who had Giovanni Pasquale sent off in […]

After meditating in his direction, Olivia Newton-John picked up her phone and texted John Travolta. She had big news. Their worldwide 1978 chart-topper from Grease, You’re The One That I Want, had become the world’s bestselling duet. After reminiscing about Rydell High for a while they decided to reunite for a one-off Christmas song called […]

A youthful Newcastle side never looked capable of securing top spot in Group D as they were outplayed in Bordeaux. With the Magpies having qualified for the last 32, manager Alan Pardew clearly decided next Monday’s Premier League trip to Fulham was of greater importance as he made nine changes to the side that beat […]

Geraint Thomas is ready to step into the limelight for Team Sky this season – and emulate his track achievements on the road. The 26-year-old successfully defended the Olympic team pursuit title at London 2012, with his gold-medal focus meaning he missed Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France triumph. But the track is now […]

Despite winning her first tour title and breaking into the world’s top 50, Heather Watson has given a brutal assessment of her breakthrough season as she strives to take her game to an even higher level. The British No.1 hit new heights when she won the HP Open in Japan, the first time a WTA […]

Army tanks were sent to restore order outside Cairo’s presidential palace after seven were killed and more than 600 injured in violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Mohamed Morsi. The Egyptian president met army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi soon after anti-Morsi protesters had ended their sit-in protest, which led to the street battles […]

Mobsters shot dead a rival gangster outside a nursery as children prepared for a Christmas carol service. Masked hitmen chased Luigi Lucenti into the childcare centre and shot him several times at point blank range. The killers escaped on a motorbike and police said it was a miracle nobody else was hurt. Terrified pupils and […]

It’s no wonder he is known as ‘the Mozart of chess’, as Magnus Carlsen can play up to ten games at once with his back to the board. Now the 22-year-old grandmaster has made history by overtaking Gary Kasparov’s record rating of 2,851 points – a feat the Russian claimed was impossible after he set […]

Tennis legend John McEnroe is convinced Andy Murray and Laura Robson can take their games to the next level in 2013. Murray this year won his first major title, the US Open, as well as claiming Olympic gold and reaching the Wimbledon final for the first time. Meanwhile, as well as collecting mixed doubles silver […]

Manchester United’s Alex Buttner claims to know nothing about last season’s 6-1 derby massacre. Despite the seismic nature of the Old Trafford encounter in October last year, the Dutch full-back was unaware it had happened when he signed from Vitesse Arnhem this summer. And, ahead of Sunday’s derby, it still is not being discussed around […]

A boy of 14 has died after being hit by a train near a crossing. This incident makes it four rail deaths in four days involving people from Lincolnshire. The teenager is believed to have been trying to cross the tracks near Doddington Road in Lincoln when he was struck by the 7:42 service from […]

A father died trying to save his children after a boating accident, which also claimed the life of his son. Julian Mynott could have walked away unharmed, but made a ‘Herculean effort’ to save his children after they disappeared under the water when their boat capsized. The bodies of the 42-year-old and his youngest son […]

Freddie Burns is eager to cement his England squad place after his dream debut against New Zealand last week. The 22-year-old fly-half was coolness personified after coming off the bench to replace Owen Farrell for a solid 15-minute cameo in which he booted two penalties in the record 38-21 win over the All Blacks at […]

If you spend any length of time with Alastair Cook, one thing which quickly becomes obvious is the England captain’s determination to break every record in the book. So it will have been with some satisfaction when today he became the youngest player to compile 7,000 Test runs on his way to a 23rd hundred, […]

Newcastle have joined Tottenham in the hunt for exciting Nancy full-back Massadio Haïdara, according to reports in France. The 19-year-old full-back has shot to attention of a number of European clubs after finally establishing himself as a regular in the Nancy lineup, making 19 appearances already this term. A fast, technical and rugged left-back who […]

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has been banned for three games and fined £60,000 after he admitted confronting referee Mark Clattenburg at the end of the controversial 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United in October.

Roma coach Zdenek Zeman has cleared the way for Daniele De Rossi to join Manchester City after slamming the player for his poor attitude this season. De Rossi is recognised as one of the best midfielders in world football, but his form has dipped in the last few months, following lengthy speculation over his future. […]